Best Bets For The Week

April 25, 2013

Bike Donation Drive at Whole Foods Northbrook

Local residents can join Whole Foods for its annual Earth Day celebration from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The store will host Working Bikes, so attendees can donate a bike for restoration and receive a $5 gift card. Working Bikes takes bikes in any condition or size and restores and supplies them to organizations locally and around the world.

Whole Foods Northbrook is located at 840 Willow Road. For information, call 847-205-5353 or go to wholefoodsmarket.com/events?store=6634.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Discover what happens to all that stuff in the green bin after it is picked up, learn what the numbers on the bottom of recyclable packages mean and more about sustainability from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 28. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The fee is $8 for residents and $10 for nonresidents.

The program will be at the Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie/The Tyner Center, 2400 Compass Road, Glenview. Register at Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave., or online at glenviewparks.org. Call 847-299-6096 for details.

Forget-Me-Notes in Niles

The Forget-Me-Notes of Chicago Metro Chorus will present songs, lively tunes, melodies, sing-along, toe-tapping, clap-to music and a few jokes at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at the Niles Historical Museum. New songs, old favorites, the best of barbershop quartet harmony.

At the event, attendees can see the new exhibits, try the new magnetic elevator, take a tour of the building and get information about joining the Niles Historical Society as a member.

This program is family oriented and open to everyone whether they live in Niles or not. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. A brief business meeting will take place at 2 p.m. The Niles Historical Museum is located at 8970 Milwaukee Ave., Niles. For information, call 847-390-0160.

Des Plaines Toastmasters open house is April 29

The Des Plaines Toastmasters club #1645/30 will host an open house at 7 p.m. Monday, April 29 at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St. The keynote speech, How to Create A Speech in Twenty Minutes or Less, will be a learn-by-doing workshop, facilitated by Des Plaines resident Romeo Gimeno.

Gimeno is a private public speaking tutor who has studied the speaking styles of Martin Luther King Jr. & John Kennedy Jr. He'll incorporate some of their techniques in his presentation.

A general meeting will follow the open house from 7:45 to 8:35 p.m. All are welcome, and no R.S.V.P. is required. For details, call Rich Ludwig at 847-207-5065 or email him at richglo@comcast.net. For more information, go to desplaines.toastmastersclubs.org.

Sportskids Archery classes

Children can learn the basics of a recurve bow in this nine-step safety program. Blunt tipped arrows, bows and targets are provided. Classes are Tuesdays, April 30 through June 4 and Thursdays, May 2 through June 6, at Johns Park, 2101 Central Road. Times are from 5 to 5:50 p.m. for ages 7-13, at $66 for residents and $82.50 for nonresidents; and 6 to 6:50 p.m. for ages 6 to adult, at $99 for residents and $123.75 for nonresidents. Classes are at Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview. Register by calling 847-724-5670 or at glenviewparks.org.

Northbrook actor stars in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" in Des Plaines

Big Noise Theatre Company welcomes Northbrook's David Whitlock back on the Prairie Lakes stage performing the role of Lawrence Jameson in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

Whitlock's involvement in music and theater was nurtured through Wescott Elementary School, Maple Junior High and Glenbrook North. He then attended Northwestern University.

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray, with musical direction by Robert Deason. Alex McCrary is the associate director. Performances will be held at the Prairie Lakes Theatre from April 26 through May 12. Written by Jeffrey Lane, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, the show was nominated in all major categories at the 2005 Tony Awards.

Based on the 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, the musical comedy centers on two con men living on the French Riviera. Lawrence Jameson (David Whitlock) makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson (David Geinosky, Elk Grove Village) more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories. After meeting on a train, the men agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate (Kristine Burdi, Stickney-Berwyn) wins, and the other must leave town.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. (except Saturday, April 27). The Prairie Lakes Theatre is located at 515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines. Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors/students, and can be ordered by calling 847-604-0275 or online at bignoise.org.